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The Racine Journal Times

Rivera Makes Books Customized for Children

Changing careers can be a chance to explore new opportunities and develop different talents, and Sarah Rivera is proof of that. Rivera grew up in Racine and attended Case High School.

She is co-founder of Custom Made for Kids, a personalized children’s book business based in the Chicago area. The company publishes one-of-kind books designed by customers on the company’s Web site. The books aren’t cookie cutter affairs with the only difference being the child’s name, Rivera said. Each book is different because every child has different experiences.

Rivera spoke with the Journal times about her new career.

What did you do before helping start Custom Made for Kids?

I grew up in Racine, graduating from J.I. Case High School in 1984. My father, Dr. John Foreman, still lives in Racine and so do my in-laws, Gene and Joanie Rivera. As an undergraduate, I went to UW-Madison where I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1988. Following college, I married my high school sweetheart, Michael Rivera, who also grew up in Racine. After working several years for a direct marketing business in Milwaukee, we moved to Chicago in 1991 when my husband got a job at a big advertising agency. In Chicago, I worked for two years as a paralegal until I went to Northwestern School of Law, where I earned a law degree in 1996. I practiced employee benefits law for five years at a large Chicago law firm until I had my first son, Will, in 2001. I remained a stay-at-home mom in Hinsdale, Ill., for five years — having a second son, John, in 2003 — until starting my personalized children’s book business in the fall of 2006.

What appealed to you about the personalized children’s book business?
My two boys had received several personalized children’s books as gifts and I thought they were unique keepsake gifts because of the personalization aspect. Seeing the joy and excitement in my children’s eyes simply from seeing their names appear in the books made me want to create an even more customized book that included numerous details about the child and his or her family’s traditions and interests — one that would make a true lasting impression on any child and family receiving the book.

There are similar books available on the market. How is yours different?
Most personalized books simply insert a child’s name into a generic story or spell out the child’s name. In Custom Made For Kid’s personalized storybook, "The First Adventures of Incredible You," customers build a one-of-a kind book at the Custom Made For Kids Web site, http://www.custommadeforkids.com, by inserting over 20 personal facts about a child and the people and places that are most important to that child.

From tasting a favorite food to cheering on a beloved sports team to visiting a special vacation spot or park, "The First Adventures of Incredible You" celebrates the first adventures of every young child who stars in it. By personalizing these adventures, the rhyme-based book highlights the connection between children and the people and places that are special to them in their young lives.

There is also a dedication page in the full-color, hardcover book where customers may provide a personal message so that the child will always remember who gave him or her the book. The delightful illustrations are also cleverly executed so that the book is perfect for any child — no matter what their sex, race or family structure.

My business partner, Sarah Riley Headrick, and I co-authored this book and we think we truly succeeded in making it a memorable, high quality keepsake that both children and parents alike will cherish for a lifetime. On Aug. 1, our book received the iParenting Outstanding Product Award in the "Best Gift" category. We were so delighted to learn the news and find out that others feel the book makes a truly special and meaningful gift as well.

"The First Adventures of Incredible You," written by Sarah Riley Headrick and Sarah Foreman Rivera and illustrated by Jill Dryer Bartolucci, sells for $32.95 on the Custom Made For Kids Web site at http://www.custommadeforkids.com/.